High Bridge man charged with having fake marijuana in Clinton Township

CLINTON TWP. — After police were informed of a possible intoxicated motorist, a High Bridge resident was arrested here and charged with driving while under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance and other offenses.

Joseph Stracuzzi, 27, was suspected of smoking synthetic marijuana before driving. On Sunday, March 30, just before noon, Patrolman Drew MacQueen received a report of a possibly intoxicated driver and located the vehicle, a 2000 Jeep Cherokee, and stopped it on Route 31 near Halstead Street. He’d seen it go out of its lane and noticed the right brake light was out.

Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer saw a makeshift pipe (a hollowed-out pen with residue) in plain view, police said. A subsequent search produced another pipe and a zip-lock bag containing a small amount of synthetic marijuana.

MacQueen developed probable cause to believe that Stracuzzi smoked synthetic marijuana prior to driving. He arrested Stracuzzi on charges of possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, operating a vehicle while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, failure to stay in his lane and not maintaining his vehicle lights. His Jeep was towed from the scene. He was released after posting $5,000 bail.